recommend me some comics

[Medved]

my kids are taking an interest in comics (batman superman and spiderman)  they have plenty of age appropriate stuff to be getting on with but i'd quite fancy starting to read some as well.

what sort of titles are good to read lately and have a consistently good story and writing

used to read spiderman and most marvel stuff in the mid-late 90's. it looks like it;s moved on a bit but some of the old stalwarts are still there.

some advice of what to pic up is appreciated.    thanks

[LazarusKing]

What characters do you like?  That would help.

[vampifan]

2000AD. It just goes from strength to strength and puts the vast majority of American comics in the shade. I certainly couldn't fault the stories and the artwork and writing are consistantly high.

[wallybubs]

I'm still a sucker for the old 'Commando' comics, if I see any at a car boot sale or a flee market, I try to buy a few.

I know theyre good coz when I finish reading them, I chuck them in the tea room and the lorry drivers at work fight over them 

[rampantgoat]

2000AD. It just goes from strength to strength and puts the vast majority of American comics in the shade.

 
but i aslo dig stuff like preacher, punisher, and if you can get it snake plisskin. mmmmmm lots of p's there i never noticed before.

[Wildheart]

Third for the mighty 2000a.d.
I can't recommend the Megazine highly enough, but it may be a bit too adult orientated at times.

To be honest, they're all I read comic-wise these days. Although I loved Marvel and D.C. when growing up, I can't say I'm all that bothered by their formula anymore.

There's always Thrud.   

[Gothy Beans]

I'd say pick up some early trade paper backs of Marvel's "Ultimate" universe series (Fantastic Four, Spider-Man, X-Men etc.) as they are like the old classics revamped with tidied up back stories and potted histories. The humour is still there, but the multi-crossover convoluted poo isn't.
I really enjoyed the first few years of each. 

[Tasker]

2000AD. It just goes from strength to strength and puts the vast majority of American comics in the shade. I certainly couldn't fault the stories and the artwork and writing are consistantly high.

I take it it's gotten better in recent years then?

I used to get 2000AD, bought it religiously every issue.  But suddenly it went seriously down hill and I couldn't take it any more. ( When stories look like they're drawn by a chimp and done in biro with highligher pens, it's time to give up on it. )

[vampifan]

I've bought every issue since Prog 1 and I totally agree with you that it did slump... very badly! But I'd say that this past decade it has reached new heights. Yes, you still get the odd crap story or a story let down by dodgy artwork, but they are few and far between nowadays. I maintain that it is a consistantly good comic.

[Medved]

tbh i was never really a fan of 2000AD, more the american stuff.

basically spiderman, avengers or FF, x-men, thor  something with a good strong storyline that doesnt go for too many crossovers and keeps the continuity going.

maybe time to get into some DC stuff as i've never really read much of it.   what's hot right now?

[LazarusKing]

Ultimate Spider-Man may be for you then.  Over 150 issues, and I don't think any of the crossovers (which are extremely few) are required reading.  Other than a slump around the "Carnage" storyline, the quality has been consistently high.  They even did a good job with the clone saga. 

Other books I'd recommend:
The Flash (The latest run by Geoff Johns, which should have a collection releasing soon)
http://www.amazon.com/Flash-Vol-Dastardly-Death-Rogues/dp/1401229700/ref=sr_1_2?ie=UTF8&qid=1295837815&sr=8-2

Invincible Iron Man (by Matt Fraction, the first trade is called 'The Five Nightmares')
http://www.amazon.com/Invincible-Iron-Man-Vol-Nightmares/dp/0785134603/ref=sr_1_1?s=books&ie=UTF8&qid=1295837855&sr=1-1

Invincible (Image Comics, it's written by Robert Kirkman, the writer of the Walking Dead, and imho, is a fantastic book in it's own right.  But beware, it's not afriad to get bloody on occasion.)
http://www.amazon.com/Invincible-Book-Family-Matters-v/dp/1582407118/ref=sr_1_1?s=books&ie=UTF8&qid=1295837894&sr=1-1

New Avengers (Brian Micheal Bendis, first collection is called 'Breakout') 
http://www.amazon.com/Avengers-Vol-Brian-Michael-Bendis/dp/0785124640/ref=sr_1_2?s=books&ie=UTF8&qid=1295837917&sr=1-2

Astonishing X-men (The first 4 trades are by Joss Whedon, and are fantastic.)
http://www.amazon.com/Astonishing-X-Men-Vol-1-Gifted/dp/0785115315/ref=sr_1_1?s=books&ie=UTF8&qid=1295837981&sr=1-1

All Star Superman (This ones a mini-series, and technically an elseworlds story, but it is VERY good)
http://www.amazon.com/All-Star-Superman-Vol-1/dp/140121102X/ref=sr_1_1?s=books&ie=UTF8&qid=1295838124&sr=1-1

[supervike]

I highly recommend the GOON.

Fantastic art, weird but enjoyable stories. 

I love traditional super hero comics as well, but The Goon is like a breath of fresh air. 

So enjoyable.

[Lorbaat]

Ultimate Spider-Man may be for you then.  Over 150 issues, and I don't think any of the crossovers (which are extremely few) are required reading. 

I would argue that both Ultimate Six and Ultimatum are pretty required.

[Gangrel]

We got this far and no one's recommended picking up Sandman reprints? Along with V for Vendetta, my favourite comic. Beautiful, delicate tales to be cherished.

[Vermis]

Hellboy and BPRD.  Shame on you all.

basically spiderman, avengers or FF, x-men, thor  something with a good strong storyline that doesnt go for too many crossovers and keeps the continuity going.

It's been about a decade of major crossovers at Marvel, but after the last (Seige) it seems to be calming down.

Thor's fairly good at the mo, and set to get better.  Though might be a little tough to get into with all the stuff that happened in Seige.  I hear good things about mainstream Spider-Man too.

Personally, I'm enjoying the stuff with the new Red Hulk, especially now the 'whodunnit' is over and Jeff Parker's on writing duties.  The Planet Hulk and War War Hulk storylines before that were very popular too, if you feel like picking up those trades.

[Gangrel]

Hellboy and BPRD.  Shame on you all.

I feel shamed.

You're right. Lobster Johnson rules.

[Lorbaat]

It's been about a decade of major crossovers at Marvel, but after the last (Seige) it seems to be calming down.

Yes, but you can actually read the crossovers themselves, which connect to make quite a nice story.

[ecthelion]

I'm a big comic nut myself, so thought I'd pop in:

non-superhero:
1) You should really look into the Stand, by Marvel: first 3 trades are out now, I just bought the first (captain Trips), then the second and am so going to get the third. It's really about the story and characters, not so much action but the suspense is excellent.

2) DMZ by Vertigo: USA in civil war, and a young reporter gets stuck in Manhattan, only demilitarized zone in the country...REALLY good.

Superhero:
3) The Ed Brubaker Captain America series...I bought the omnibus and was very happy I did; drawing by Mike Perkins (same artist as on the stand) and just very awesome. Very classic Cap, but also really pulled in to todays world.

4) Checkmate...very cool super team which is made up of ranks like on a chess board. Sounds weird, but it works surprisingly well. I think there are 3 or 4 TPB's.

5) the Joker by brian Azzarello and Lee bermejo...one of the grimmest batman stuff around , but the art is stunning and I love it.

[gi6ers]

Watchmen
Hulk stuff as Vermis said.
I like the ultimate avengers stuff too 

Can't go wrong with Rogue Trooper, ABC warriors and Walking Dead if you fancy some Zed action.

[LazarusKing]

 

I completely forgot to mention stuff that wasn't superhero related.  I'm ashamed.  I second eveything everyone has listed so far.  It seems like everyone here has great taste in comics. 

Hellboy, B.P.R.D., and The Goon are my absolute favorites personally, but I'm the target audience, since I like mythology, steampunk, horror, and giant monsters. 

[justice]

If you're wanting to buy some comics I've got a few boxes I'm wanting to part with...   

[Vermis]

New one.  I saw this in Forbidden Planet today:

http://www.amazon.co.uk/Haunt-Horror-Lovecraft-Premiere-HC/dp/0785132872

The collected miniseries of Richard Corben's take on selected Lovecraft stories, with the original stories printed alongside.  I got a couple of the single issues when they were printed a couple of years ago - great stuff.  Seeing it again makes me wish I'd done up an Arthur Jermyn (or his distant relatives) for Frother's Cthluedo.

[carsjr]

Have you tried Jeff Smith's "Bone"?

Originally published in th 1990s, I think, but now it's collected into (I think) 9 volumes into a smaller-than-graphic-novel-size-but-larger-than-a-paperback format.
It's more for younger audiences, but it will appeal to adults too.  I remember them from the 90s, but never read them - I also remember them winning all sorts of awards, and on several critics lists too.  I picked them up fo my (then) 6.5 year old to read to him.  We whizzed through all the volumes in rapid succession, and the both of us thoroughly enjoyed the series.  Adventure, comedy, action, friendship, and just a joy to read.

Slowly, I got back on the horse, opting for the graphic novels/anthologies, these being a quicker reward than novels when I'm on the go:
Walking Dead
Hellboy
Savage Sword of Conan
And even some of the DC/Marvel reprints of the old early to mid-1960s Justice League/Justice Society, Hawkman, etc.  Always good for a laugh at the 'quaintness' of the artwork and stories (compaired to comics these days), but also very cool for the very same reason.

I have an Ipad, so now I've been downloading some things.  Some new, some old.  Comics really pop in a digital format, and I love the pinch/zoom to really get in and see some of the detail.  Plus, I no longer have to sweat the bags, boxes, storage logistics of collecting.
Crisis on Infinite Earths
Batman/Superman/Wonder Woman Trinity
The Walking Dead
The Uncanny X-Men - starting with issue #1 frm the early 60s
The Avengers - same as the XMen
Warlord of Mars
Whatever Happened to Baron Von Shock?

Marvel, DC, Image all have free apps for IPo/ads and IPhones - I'm assuming for non-apple stuff too.  At $1.99 (US) a comic, and under $10 for larger graphic novels, it's not a bad deal.  Comixology  Comics+ are other good ones, that capture a lot of the indie publishers too....

[leadhead]

Never had any care for Marvel or DC, or anything mainstream/superhero for that matter.  I go for more grizzly gritty, naughty, sometimes flippant.  Heavy Metal is usually decent, although not always.  I really like the Mills/Ledroit Requiem series, its not for everyone, being set in hell and all.  I like Azpiri's art style, but sometimes his stories don't quite have a plot.  One that I liked as a teenager, and is still funny (but no new stuff anymore and kinda obscure) Milk and Cheese, by Evan Dorkin (heavy emphasis on flippant here).

[carsjr]

Never had any care for Marvel or DC, or anything mainstream/superhero for that matter.  I go for more grizzly gritty, naughty, sometimes flippant.  Heavy Metal is usually decent, although not always.  I really like the Mills/Ledroit Requiem series, its not for everyone, being set in hell and all.  I like Azpiri's art style, but sometimes his stories don't quite have a plot.  One that I liked as a teenager, and is still funny (but no new stuff anymore and kinda obscure) Milk and Cheese, by Evan Dorkin (heavy emphasis on flippant here).

I was a longtime Heavy Metal reader, but I just got sick of all the Hentai adverts (at least for the US version).  The mag was a great way to get US readers into something else besides superheroes back in the day!